High Sierra Topix

I'll be hiking through the section of the Muir Trail from Hutchinson Meadow to the Bishop Pass junction in late July. I'm curious if there will be lots of "Wild" inspired PCT hikers. I'm thinking campsite availability — the last time I was at Evolution Lake was 30 years ago, at which point there weren't all that many other people around. This time I'll have a group of six people and six llamas.

Anyone have recent experience?

Since PCT thrus generally start in April, and probably started earlier this year, I suspect you'll see very few of them in that area. However, there will be plenty of JMT hikers.

My observation of late is that most PCT hikers and a lot of JMT hikers are young folks. They tend to get later starts and get into camp quite late, sometimes even by headlamp. If you start early and select your campsites by mid-afternoon you usually will have the pick of the sites, even in crowded areas.

I was in that area in early July (hiked from Muir pass to Sapphire) and it seemed a little busier than years past. As AlmostThere mentions, 95% were hiking south (either doing the JMT or North>South Lake). I assume most PCT'ers have already moved on. Hiking south helps to reduce the appearance of traffic.

Interestingly, nearly everyone in the Evolution area we passed were planning on camping at either Helen or Wanda (no shortage of sites, but you won't be alone)....if you plan your stops accordingly, you may find more solitude.

Here's a photo taken at the Tuolumne Meadows post office on June 10 showing postmaster Mike with all the PCT re-supply parcels that entirely filled up his space forcing him to stack the overflow out in the store.



Mike has been there for ten summers and has never seen so many re-supply parcels. He talks to a lot of hikers and attributes the increase directly to the impact of Wild.

Previously discussed here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11956&hilit=movie+wild#p90046